Bill > H0545

This bill amends existing Idaho law to allow individuals who have served as chaplains in the United States military to be licensed as professional counselors and clinical professional counselors. Specifically, it provides alternative pathways to licensure for these individuals, recognizing their military service and training as equivalent to certain educational and experience requirements. For licensed professional counselor licensure, a military chaplain who is an Idaho resident, has an honorable discharge, completed four units of clinical pastoral education, and has 1,000 hours of supervised client contact in the military will be exempt from the usual master's degree, examination, and supervised experience requirements. Similarly, for licensed clinical professional counselor licensure, an Idaho resident military chaplain with an honorable discharge, four units of clinical pastoral education, and 2,000 hours of supervised client contact in the military will be exempt from holding a professional counselor license, passing an examination, and paying an application fee. The bill also declares an emergency and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

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https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0545/